Leading with sales over service
In today’s fast-paced, high-volume business world, it’s easy to forget what drives real, long-term success: meaningful relationships. Ariya Malek of Educational Awakening Center shares a clear reminder that when leaders and teams treat clients like transactions, the relationship—and the sale—breaks down. Great customer service isn’t just about solving problems—it’s about making people feel seen and understood. This shift from chasing numbers to nurturing value is often the pivot that separates thriving brands from forgettable ones.
One bad practice is treating a customer as a transaction rather than offering them tailored service. Customers want to feel like they are getting a product that truly meets their needs. When a client feels like their needs aren’t a priority—but the sale is—it’s a formula that ends with a lost client (and lost potential clients). Create a culture of leading with service instead of leading with sales.
That small transition can make the biggest difference in the long term. – Ariya Malek, Educational Awakening Center
The greatest competitive edge in business is how you make people feel. By centering service over sales, businesses can strengthen client relationships, build loyalty, and stand out in a crowded market. Sales should be the result of service—not the goal. When companies realign to prioritize genuine client needs, they create win-win outcomes that naturally drive referrals and repeat business. Every interaction becomes an opportunity to prove you care more about value than volume.
Implementable Strategy:
- Audit your sales processes to identify areas where service can be emphasized more strongly
- Train teams to ask clients deeper questions about their goals before offering solutions
- Establish a customer-first decision matrix that guides all service touchpoints
Original Publications
Full Article:
6 service mistakes that drive customers away
Medium Version:
The Shift That Retains Clients: Service Before Sales
Substack Version:
Authenticity Is the Anchor: Building Real Business Relationships
